What has the Honest John team been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [What do I need to do to my car if leaving it parked for six weeks?]( Posted by on 29 July, 2023 I have a Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI and will be going abroad for between 4 to 6 weeks with my car parked on my driveway. No one else will be in the home when i'm away so I won't be able to trickle charge the battery. Would it make sense to inflate the tyres to say 5 PSI under their safe maximum pressure in order to safeguard against flat spots. Also is there anything that I will need to do in regards to the battery? [Read more →]( [Should I change the cambelt on my SEAT when I change the water pump?]( Posted by on 29 July, 2023 My 2019 SEAT Arona (18000 miles) water pump is leaking. When I get it replaced should I do the the timing belt at the same time? I have been quoted £899 is this reasonable? [Read more →]( [I renewed my licence as I am over 70 but have lost categories, can I get them back?]( Posted by on 28 July, 2023 I renewed my licence at 70 and lost a lot of categories! This was during Covid and was impossible to get any resolution. If I submit a copy of my original licence will DVLA give me back my groups? I’ve lost ability to do volunteer driving. [Read more →]( [Is Xenum petrol additive any good?]( Posted by on 28 July, 2023 A friend has suggested that I use the above but would welcome your comments. I drive a BMW 420i cabriolet auto and a Toyota Aygo X auto. I rarely use supermarket petrol and mostly use BP or Jet. [Read more →]( [Texaco super octane petrol]( Posted by on 28 July, 2023 You often mention Shell V Power, BP ultimate, or Total as high quality fuel. Recently I have found Texaco have a 99 octane petrol which at least here in Dorset is only 8 pence per liter higher than the normal petrol. If this is as good and I see no reason why it is not, then this is good value. You may think it is not as good, but it might be useful to know re cost. Regretfully it does not contain the additive Tectron which is included in the USA in Chevron fuel which I have found good. [Read more →]( [Are Volkswagen infotainment failures common?]( Posted by on 28 July, 2023 Our VW Golf Mark 7 infotainment system is completely dead. VW have charged us for diagnostics and say the unit needs to be replaced. They initially quoted £2700 though this has since been reduced to £2300. However, is it reasonable that such an expensive component should fail at this stage in a cars life? The internet contains reports of similar failures on VW group cars, and as ours has done less than 30,000 miles, would this not suggest a design or manufacturing defect that the manufacturer should be taking responsibility for? Does you have any knowledge of this issue, and of any cases where VW have paid in whole or in part to put cars back into fit for purpose condition? [Read more →]( [What's the best ULEZ compliant car?]( Posted by on 28 July, 2023 Hi, we have 2 boys to do school runs 11 miles each way. What car and the best way to purchase one? It needs to be ULEZ compliant. [Read more →]( [Which Suzuki Swift model is best?]( Posted by on 28 July, 2023 I have a 2015 1.2 Suzuki Swift but would like more power and refinement. A Suzuki salesman recommended the Swift with the Boosterjet engine which I eventually test drove. I must say I was disappointed with this later car as there were aspects such as gearbox and steering that I felt were not as good as my earlier model Swift, although it was speedier. With regards to extra speed and refinement should I be looking at a 2015 onwards Swift Sport instead or am I missing another gem? My budget is up to £13,000. [Read more →]( [Why do police require dashcam footage one minute either side of any incident?]( Posted by on 28 July, 2023 Why do the police require dashcam footage for one minute before and after an incident? I reported an incident that occurred less than a minute before parking at home when the recording stopped when the engine was stopped. [Read more →]( [Honda CR-V heater on driver's side does not warm up, how can I fix this?]( Posted by on 28 July, 2023 Having done the due dilligence (HJ Reviews etc) I took a 13 plate Honda CR-V for a test run two days ago which was a warm day so was pleased that the air con was running nice and cold (or so I thougt). As the car has just got a new MoT and has a good service record I bought the car (private seller). Fast forward 24 hours and with the weather turning wet, windy & cold I turned the heat up, eventually to the 'Hi' setting. The air from the heater vents on the driver's side remained stone cold even after an hour's drive. Air from the passenger side vents gets warm but not that warm. A quick check on Google reveals that this heater problem on CRVs between 2012 & 2014 is common. As always there are many suggestions online as to what might cure the problem but it seems to be a case of dismantling the dash or floor or, taking large parts of the engine out to get at the heater. Have you any suggestions as how best to identify the problem and resolve the issue or do I just put myself at the mercy of a Honda dealership? [Read more →]( [What happens at the end of a PCP if the car is worth less than the GMV?]( Posted by on 28 July, 2023 Could you please clarify what would happen at the end of a deal if the car is worth less than the GMV, who takes the loss & is the deposit still safe, With the large depreciation figures I have seen on some EV it is a concern. [Read more →]( [Which dual clutch and CVT would you recommend?]( Posted by on 28 July, 2023 I’ve been researching and debating a ton about the type of auto boxes available. There seems to be an even amount of disadvantages for all of them. Torque converters aren’t as fuel efficient, CVTs are noisy and dual clutches can be unreliable. My budget is £10k. Torque converters in this price range seem to be either too old, too small or not well equipped. Can you recommend a medium sized CVT that isn’t noisy (if possible) and a medium sized dual clutch that’s reliable (if they exist) for this price range? [Read more →]( [What city cars would you recommend?]( Posted by on 27 July, 2023 Our very loved Golf TDI has just been written off by a drunk driver. We only travel to work Monday to Friday about 30 mins each way so looking for a city car, that's economical, reliable and not too ugly! I have always had VWs, but so many people say you don't get much for your money with the VW Up and we should shop around for maybe a Hyundai or Fiat 500. I would appreciate hearing your views. [Read more →]( [Which Fiat 500X engine should I choose?]( Posted by on 27 July, 2023 I have a choice of two Fiat 500X 2020 reg models with petrol engines. One with the 1.0l Firefly engine and the other with the 1.4l engine in the Sport version of the model. My wife is not looking for a sports car but one that is good for local travel with occasional sorties onto 'A' roads and motorways. Which of the engines would you suggest as preferable all-rounder? [Read more →]( [How do I sell my car?]( Posted by on 27 July, 2023 I want to sell my Nissan Figaro but don’t know where to start, please advise. [Read more →]( [My parking sensors stop working in the rain, how can I fix this?]( Posted by on 27 July, 2023 I have a 2020 Nissan Qashqai, the front parking sensors would buzz on and off in the rain and show I was close to something even when on the road. Is there a fix to stop this happing like Vaseline or a water proof sealant that could be used? Once it was dry they were fine. [Read more →]( [Is my Mercedes Euro 5a or Euro 5b?]( Posted by on 27 July, 2023 Is my July 2012 Mercedes C220 AMG sport stop/start diesel a Euro 5a or Euro 5b? My local Mercedes dealer (in Ayr) where quite rude when asked and no help at all. Euro 5b diesels are legal to use in low emission zones so this an important question. [Read more →]( [The key card for my Renault Espace will open the doors but not start the car, what can I do?]( Posted by on 27 July, 2023 I have a Renault espace MK4, the card key opens the doors but won't start the car. I've put a new battery in the key card but it has made no difference. [Read more →]( [Should I SORN my car while I'm away for a month?]( Posted by on 27 July, 2023 I have a Volvo XC40 phev and the road tax is £550 per year. Is it worth my while to SORN it for a complete month when it is locked in my garage while l am on holiday? [Read more →]( [How do I programme the key for my Vauxhall Astra?]( Posted by on 26 July, 2023 I recently bought a 2014 Vauxhall Astra GTC and one of the keys only partially works. It will unlock the doors and start the engine, but does not remotely unlock the doors. I have replaced the battery but that hasn't rectified the problem. When I start the engine with it, the radio displays a different selection of stored stations. Assuming the fault is not with the circuit board, does it need re-programming and if so, how do I achieve that, please? [Read more →]( You received this email because you signed up to our mailing list. If you’re not interested in receiving our newsletter any more, you can: [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( Honestjohn.co.uk 5 New Street Square London United Kingdom EC4A 3TW